Method and apparatus for forming and inserting liners in closures



Sept. 16, 1969 D. D. AcToN E'r AL 3,466,731

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES Filed Sept. 20, 1966 1l Sheets-Sheet l DAN/64 D. ACM m Off/v L. PFucGse Sept. 16, 1969 D. D. ACTON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING Filed Sept. 20, 1966 LINERS 1N cLosuREs 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 vsa @www

Anw/My Sept. 16, 1969 D. n. AcToN ETAL. 3,465,731

METHOD AND APPARATUS Foa FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS 1N cnosuas Filed Sept. 20, 1966 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS DAN/sz. D ACTO'Y BY 0mm L. PFL/cec@ Sept. 16, 1969 D. n. AcToN ET AL 3,466,731

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOS-UHES Filed Sept. 20, 1966 l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ti S.

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INVENTORS DAN/EL D. Aarcw By GRIN L Pfl/E661? WWW/MMI Arma/Ey METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING Sept. 16, 1969 D. D. ACTON ET AL 3,466,731

LINERS IN CLDSURES Filed Sept. 20, 1966 l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 'l El. DAN/EL D Acro/Y m, 09W L. pf2/666e www Y) MMI Sept. 16, 1969 DQD, ACTON ET AL 3,466,731

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES Filed Sept. 20, 1966 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 44 'Irl- 15. 246 237 WMZIMAJ Anne/vn SPf 16, 1969 D. D. AcToN ET AL 3,466,731

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES Filed Sept. 20, 1966 l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 Tn' INVEN'IOR. DAN/5L D Acro [5y @AP/N L. Piras-MQ ATTO/@V47 Sept.

METHOD AND APPARATUS Fon FORMING LINERs 1N cLosunEs Filed Sept. 20. 1966 D. D. ACTON ET AL 3,466,731 AND INSERTING 11 Sheets-Sheet. 8

INVENTORS .DAN/L D. AC1-olv l By OP//v L. PF4/566e,

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Armpwfv Sept 16, 1969 n. D. AcroN ETAL 3,466.731

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 20, 1966 ,n .www ,Ww wcm, o @i W w v p m s m0 A 1. ma Mw DI .Il el UW .l 5 BQ? L I WH D. D. Ac'roN ET AL 3,466,731 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES 1l Sheets-Sheet 10 @q DON 11 Y .mdf .Lv -llnuww L Sept.. 16, 1969 Filed Sept. 20, 1966 tl. .rfi

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES 11 Sheets-Shea?l 1l Filed Sept. 20, 1966 MWNJ Q SN man. Wp

ML Mm DO mwN m www United States Patent O 3,466,731 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND INSERTING LINERS IN CLOSURES Daniel D. Acton and Orin L. Pflieger, Lancaster, Ohio,

assgnors to Anchor Hocking Corporation, Lancaster,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 580,712 Int. Cl. B23p 19/04; B23q 7/10 U.S. Cl. 29-429 23 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus comprises a star wheel with six closure holding slots intermittently moving closures through six stations while resting on a support plate. The closures are inserted in the star wheel and then rotated underneath a liner cutting and insertion mechanism for cutting liners from sheet liner material and placing the liners in the closures at two stations with an intermediate station therebetween. The star wheel is then rotated to the discharge station where the closures with the liners are automatically discharged to a conveyor. In the method of cutting and inserting liners the liner sheet material is intermittently fed to the two liner cutting and insertion stations and the liners are cut and dropped to a retention position above the closures from which the liners are pressed into the closures.

This invention relates to liner insertion machines and methods and is directed to liner insertion machines of the star wheel type.

In view of the increase in rate of production of containers and closures it is desirable to increase the rate of the preparation of the closures for application to the containers. Before application to the containers many closures require the insertion of several liners into the closures, the application of adhesive, insertion of coupons, the scoring or perforation of the liners or other types of operations. Most of the machines preparing the closures for application to containers process a single closure and perform .a single operation on the closure.

In order to meet the increased production of closures and containers it is, therefore, desirable to increase the number of operations performed by the machines preparing closures for application to the containers, and increase the number of closures processed at each operation.

An object of the invention is to provide a liner insertion machine performing a plurality of operations at a number of stations on a plurality of closures at each station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for simultaneous processing a plurality of closures and inserting a plurality of liners into the closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liner insertion machine for processing a plurality of closures at each station that is readily adaptable for handling different sizes and shapes of closures.

Other and further objects'of the invention will be obvious on an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the liner insertion machine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the machine to which the liner material is fed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the machine taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the feeding of closures to the machine;

3,466,731 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 ICC FIG. 6 is a top view of the liner cutting and inserting actuating mechanism;

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary side View of a tappet actuating cam;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the liner cutting and inserting actuating mechanism taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of the liner cutting and inserting mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side view of the liner cutting and inserting actuating mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the liner cutting die and the liner material guide;

FIG. 13 illustrates three closures in the star Wheel;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the closure ejection mechamsm;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the closure ejection mechamsm;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of the drive means for the closure ejection mechanism taken along lines 116-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of the guide means for the closure ejection mechanism taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a top view of the liner sheet feeder;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the liner sheet feeder taken along lines 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an endview of the liner sheet feeder;

FIG. 21 illustrates the main drive shaft;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view of the connecting drive mechanism for the star wheel;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a closure;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a closure with one liner; and

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a closure with two liners.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a top view of the liner insertion machine for inserting liners 20 and l21 into metal or plastic closures `22, as illustrated in FIG. 25. The closure may be of various conventional types having a top panel 23 and a rim 24. The liner 20 may be made of cardboard or paper and the liner 21 may be a paper or plastic liner which is eventually sealed to the lip of the container for hermetically sealing the contents.

The closures 22 are fed to a star wheel 25 (FIGS. 1 and 6) at station A and rest on a support plate 25a. The star wheel 25 is rotated clockwise, as indicated by the arrow, and has six slots 27. The star wheel 2-5 is indexed through six positions A-F by a drive later described herein. After the station A the star wheel indexes the closures to the feed station B to receive the liner 20. At the intermediate station C no operation is performed in this embodiment. The second liner 21 is inserted at station D and at station E the closures 22 are ejected. The station F is another intermediate position where no operation is performed.

The apparatus has two separate drive systems comprising the feed conveyor drive mechanism 28 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) and the main drive mechanism 29 (FIGS. l, 3 and 21). The closure feed drive 28 is described in detail later herein and has a conveyor 30l for delivering the closures to the station A. The main drive mechanism 29 has a main drive 31 (FIG. 21) connected to the motor 32 by the belts 33 through pulleys 34, 35. The main drive 31 is connected to the rst roll feed assembly 36 (FIGS. 1, 18, 19, 20) through the roll feed intermittent drive 37 (FIG. 2). The second roll feed assembly 38 is connected to and driven by the intermittent roll feed drive 37a on the opposite side of the machine from drive 37 (FIG. 1). The roll feed assembly 36 supplies liner material in sheet form to station B and the roll feed assembly 38 supplies liner material in sheet form to station D. The liners supplied at stations B and D are cut from the liner material and tamped into the closures 22 by the cut- Iting and tamping mechanisms 39 and 40 actuated by the crosshead 75 (FIG. 6).

The closures 22 are removed from the slot 27 at station E by the ejection linger 4Z (FIG. 14) operated by the ejection mechanism 43. The crosshead 75 and the cutting and tamping mechanisms 39 and 40 (FIG. 7) are reciprocally actuated by the drive 44 (-FIG. 4). The ejection mechanism 43 is driven by the auxiliary drive takeolf 45 (FIG. 22) connected to the pounder drive 44.

The star wheel is intermittently operated through a star wheel auxiliary drive 46 (FIG. 4). The slots 27 of the star wheel 25 and the cutting and tampng mechanisms -39 and 40 may be adjusted to place liners in one to five closures depending upon the size of the closures. The apparatus is mounted on a frame 47 comprising a table 48, sides 49, 50, 51 and I52 (FIG. l) and a base 53 seating on beams 54 and 55 (FIGS. 2 and 3) extending parallel to the main and auxiliary drives and beams `56, 57 (FIG. 4) extending therebetween.

The closures 22 are guided from the conveyor 30 by the straight guides 58, 59 (FIGS. l and 6) and prevented from coming out of the ends of the slots by the ring guide 60 which encompasses the star wheel 25 from the receiving station A around to the ejection station E.

FEED CONVEYOR AND DRIVE Referring to FIGS. l, 2 and 5 of the drawings the feed conveyor for supplying caps or closures 22 to the star wheel 25 comprises an electric motor and gear reduction drive 61 mounted on a bracket 62 attached to the side 49 below the top of the table 48 to recess the motor and drive 61 below the conveyor 30. The delivery end of of the conveyor 30 is mounted on a roller 63 rotatably mounted in the blocks 64, 65 secured to the table 48. The roller 63 is connected to the motor and drive.61 through the belt 66 and pulleys 67 and 68. The guides `58 and 59 overlap the end of the conveyor 30 to receive the closures 22 and guide .them onto the plate 25a and into the slots 27 `as the slots are presented for reception of the closures. As the star wheel 25 is rotated, the caps 22 are pressed against the periphery of the wheel for immediate insertion into the succeeding slot as it is presented.

THE STAR WHEEL AND SUPPORT PLATE Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7 the support plate 25a is ixedly secured and supported by the stationary collar 70 which is securely fastened to the table 48. The support plate has inserts 71 at stations B, C and D (FIG. 1). The inserts 71 have flat surfaces when the closures have sides perpendicular to the top of the closure and to the insert 71. However, if the closures have sides that are contoured or sloped, partitions 71a (FIG. 13) extending normal to the inserts are provided to space the closures and position them on the insert for proper alignment with the liner cutting and insertion mechanism.

The plate is of an irregular shape and extends to the conveyor 30 for reception of the closures 22 and to the discharge conveyor for supporting the ejected closures until delivered to the discharge conveyor 69. As previously described guides 58 and 59 extend parallel from the slots 27 at station A for guiding the closures into the slots and ring guide 60 closes the ends of the slots 27 from station A around to the ejection station E where it terminates.

The star wheel 25 it attached to a ring 72 and mounted on a hub 73 which is keyed to the shaft 74 and rests on the step 74a in the shaft. rPhe shaft 74 is connected to the auxiliary drive 46, later described herein in connection with the drive mechanism. The auxiliary drive 46 intermittently rotates the star wheel 25 in 60 intervals to correspond to the six stations A to F.

4 THE LINER CUTTING AND INSERTION MECHANISM As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 the liner cutting and insertion mechanism is mounted on the table 48 to extend above the star wheel 25 and is actuated by a pounder drive 44 (FIG. 4) below the table 48. Above the table 48 the mechanism comprises assembly and pounder 41 and cutting and tamping mechanisms 39 and 40. The pounder comprises a crosshead 75 mounted on two posts 76 and 77 (FIG. 7). The posts are slideably mounted in guiding and supporting sleeves 78 and 79, respectively, attached to lthe table 48. The sleeves extend `from above the table to below the table for providing a long guiding sur-face for the posts 76, 77 attached to and reciprocally actuated by the pounder drive. The crosshead 75 is secured -to the posts by the nuts 180 and 81, respectively.

Beneath the table 48 the reciprocal posts 76 and 77 are secured to opposite ends of the beam 82 (FIG. 4). The beam 82 has pins 83 and 84 mounted therein and rotatably connected =to the connecting rods 85 and `86, respectively, which are attached to the crankshaft 87 of the pounder drive 44. The crankshaft 87 is rotatably mounted in the sides 49 and 51 and connected to the main drive 31 by the gear 88 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). Thus on the continuous rotation of the main drive 31 (FIG. 21) from the motor 32 (FIG. l) the crankshaft 87 is continuously rotated to impart reciprocatory up and down motion to the crosshead 75.

On the top of the cross head 75 are tappet mechanisms 89 and 90 (FIG. 6). The tappet mechanism 89 has a tappet rod 91 rotatably mounted in brackets 92, 93 secured to the top of the crosshead 75. Between the brackets 92 and 93 tappets 94 are keyed rto the rod 91 to rotate therewith. On the opposite side of the bracket 92 from the tappets 94 a cam arm 95 (FIG. 11) is lixedly secured and keyed to the rod 91 for rotatably actuating the tappets to move downwardly.

Similarly, the tappet mechanism 91 has a rod 101 mounted in brackets 102, 103. Tappets 104 are mounted on the rod 101 between the brackets 102 and 103 and xedly keyed thereto to rotate the tappets downwardly, similarly to tappets 94 as shown in FIG. 1l. A cam arm 105 is xedly keyed to the rod 101 on the opposite side of the bracket 102 from the tappets 104 for actuation of the tappets. L-shaped supports and 116 (FIGS. 1, 6, 1l) are secured to the table 48 and extend upwardly towards the crosshead 75. Cams 117, 118 (FIGS. 6, 6a, 1l) are securely fastened to the upper end of the supports 115 and 116 and extend vertically therefrom. In FIGS. 6, 6a and 11 the cams 117 and 118 have straight vertical surfaces 119 and 120, respectively, engaged by the rollers 96 and 106 on arms 95 and 105, respectively. As the crosshead 75 is moved downwardly the rollers 96 and 106 engage the sloped cam surface 121, 122 to rotate the ends of the tappets 94 and 104 in a downward direction. On the opposite side of the cams 117 and 118 are straight surfaces 123 and 124 engaged by rollers 97 and 107 mounted on brackets 98 and 108 securely and fixedly fastened to the side of the crosshead 75. The rollers 97 and y107 guide the crosshead 75 in precise relation to the cams 117 and 118.

As shown in FIG. 7 the cutting and insertion mechanisms 39, 40 are mounted between the star wheel 25 and the crosshead 75. These include cutting plates and 131 spaced above and secured to the table 48 by the spaced supports 130a, 131:1 and positioned immediately adjacent and above the star wheel 25. As best shown in FIGS. 7-10 the cutting plate 130 has a recess 132 for receiving and positioning a cutting die 133 having circular cutting edges 134. Cooperating with the cutting edge 134 is the cutting die 135 secured to the cutting die mounting 136 adjustably mounted in the sleeve 137 secured to the plate 138. The plate 138 is securely fastened to the crosshead 75 and reciprocally moves therewith guided by posts 139.

The cutting plate 130 has a channel 140 (FIG. 8) for guiding the sheet of liner material 141 from which the liners 20 are formed. A guide plate 142 is secured to the top ofthe cutting plate 130 to close the top of the channel 140 and has openings 143 for passing the cutting die 135. On the underside of the cutting plate 130 (FIGS. `9 and a second rectangular recess 144 is provided for the retention plate 145 having an opening 146 with a stepped edge 147 for momentarily holding the liner 20 in position over the closure 22.

Reciprocally mounted within the cutting die mounting 136 is the tapping tool 148 having a disc-shaped head 149 with a resilient member y150 for pressing against and seating the liner in the closure 22 (FIG. 10). The stem 151 is reciprocally mounted in a sleeve 152 for reciprocally guiding the stem l151. The stern 151 has a. tappet head 153 detachably fastened thereto for guiding the upper end of the stem 151 in the bore 154 of the cutting die mounting 136. A spring 155 is positioned in the bore 154 to resiliently urge and hold the tapping tool 148 in the upper position with the disc 149 and resilient member 150 in the recess 156 in the cutting die 135. Thus on the downward movement the disc 149y and resilient member 150 are recessed in the die and the die 135 cuts the liner 20 from sheet 141 and the liner 20 drops onto the step 147. The tapping tool 148 is` then pressed downward by the tappets 94 and the cushion member 150 presses against the liner 20 and forces it down seatin git in the closure 22. On completion of the seating the crosshead 75 is raised and the tapping tool 149 and die 135 are then raised clear of the sheet of lining material 141 for the next operation.

Similarly with the cutting and inserting mechanism 40, as shown in FIG. 7, the cutting plate 131 is positioned above and securely mounted on the table 48 immediately adjacent to and above the star wheel 25. The cutting plate 131 is similar to the cutting plate 130 except that the recess 162 is at an angle corresponding to the -angle of the slot 27 at station D. The cutting die 163 is positioned in the recess 162 and has circular cutting edges 164 cooperating with the cutting die 165 to cut the sheet of second liner material 171 held in the channel 170 by the plate 172. The punched liner 21 is held by the stepped edge 177 in the plate 175 and is forced into the closure on top of the liner 20 by the tapping tool 178. The tapping tool 178 is similar to the tapping tool 148 and has a resilient member 180 mounted on the disc portion 179 attached to the stern 181 reciprocally mounted in the sleeve 182 of the die holding member 176. The tappets 104 engage the tappet head 173 reciprocally mounted in the bore 184 containing the spring 185 resiliently holding the disc 179 and resilient member 180 in the recess 186 of the die 165. The die holding member 176 is adjustably mounted in the sleeve 17 6a securely fastened in fixed relation to the support member 168 mounted on posts 169.

Thus on the downward movement of the crosshead 75 of the pounder 41 the liners 20 and 21 are simultaneously cut and placed in the closures 22 with the liner 21 being inserted after the liner 20. The insertion of the liners is completed at station D. The star Wheel is then rotated to position the lined closures at the ejection station E.

THE EJECT ION MECHANISM The ejection of the closures is performed at station E and the closures are slid by the ejection iinger 42 along the plate 25a onto the ejection conveyor 69. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 14-17 the ejection mechanism 43 is connected to the pounder drive mechanism 44 (FIG. 4) through the auxiliary drive 45. The auxiliary drive comprises beveled gears 190, 191, 192, 193 (FIGS. 4 and 14). The gear 193 is connected to the shaft 194 (FIG.

14) mounted in the sleeve bracket 195 connected to the side 51. On the end of shaft 194 is the crankplate 189 (FIGS. 15, 16) adjustably attached by means of the fastening means 196 and the flange 197 mounted on the shaft 194. The buckle 198 is secured by the bolt 199 and nut 200 to the slot 201 in the plate 189 for adjustment of the amplitude of movement by the threaded adjusting means 202 (FIG. 16) mounted in the plate 189. The buckle 198 is connected to the L-shaped lever 203 (FIG. 15) by means of the adjustable shaft 204 and pivotal connector 205. The L-shaped lever 203 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 206 securely and rigidly fastened to the table 48. The L-shaped lever 203 extends through a slot 207 in the table 48 and is connected to the ejection mechanism 208 by means of the adjustable shaft coupling 209. The ejection mechanism (FIGS. 14 and 17) comprises a slide 210 mounted in the straight rails 211 securely fastened to the supporting plate 25a. The rails 211 have grooves 212 to receive the slide 210. The rails 211 are mounted underneath the plate 25a and extend through slot 213 in the plate 25a. The ejection finger 42 is securely fastened to the slide 210 and has a curved edge 214 (FIG. 14) for engaging the closures. The finger 42 moves linearly with the slide 210 to eject the closures 22 from the slot 27 at the station E.

The linkages of the ejection drive mechanism are adjusted in length to move in timed synchronization with the star wheel 25. The slide 210 extends longitudinally in the direction of movement, as best illustrated in FIG. 14, for the location of the ejection nger 42 in one of a number of positions.

MAIN DRIVE MECHANISM The lining machine is driven from the motor 32 through the pulley 35, belts 33 and pulley 34 on the main drive 31 (FIGS. l and 3). The main drive 31 in addition to the pulley 34 comprises a shaft 220 (FIG. 21) rotatably mounted in the sides 49 and 51 and has a brake control 221 mounted on the side 51 and keyed to the shaft 220. The brake 221 prevents coasting of the machine atfer the power is turned off to avoid further damage if a malfunction or jamming of the machine has occurred. In the operation of the machine it provides a positive stop of the machine in the same position when the machine is controlled by a photoelectric cell of a closure timing mechanism. This timing mechanism permits the power to be deenergized at only one position of the cycle and the brake stops the machine at this position.

At the other end shaft 220 has a gear 222 and a gear 223. The gear 223 meshes with the gear 88 (FIGS. 1 and 4) of the auxiliary drive 44 connected to the crosshead 75. A wheel 224 (FIGS. l and 21) is mounted on the end of the shaft 220 for manual operation of the machine.

ROLL FEED ASSEMBLIES Referring particularly to FIGS. 18 to 20, the first roll feed assembly 36 has a shaft 225 intermittently rotated by the roll feed intermittent drive 37. The drive 37 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) comprises a shaft 260 and crankplate 226 coupled to the gear 222 (FIG. 21) of the main drive and continuously rotated in one direction. The shaft 260 is rotatably mounted in extensions 261 and 262 of the front wall 49 and rear wall 51, respectively. The gear 263 on the shaft 260 engages the gear 222 on the main drive 31 (FIG. 2l) to continuously rotate the shaft 260. Thus the plate 226 is continuously rotated on the operation of the machine.

Plate 226 has arcuate slots 227 and a diametric slot 228 for adjusting the plate 226 and the amplitude of operation imparted to the arm 229 on the shaft 225 (FIG. 2). The arm 229 is connected to the plate 226 by means of the adjustable coupling 230. The shaft 225 is rotatably mounted in brackets 231, 232 mounted on the side 50 (FIG. 19). At the opposite end from the arm 229 gear 233 is iixedly keyed to the shaft 225 and meshes with the gear 234 mounted on the shaft 235. The shaft 235 7 is rotatably mounted in slides 236, 237 slideably fitting in the brackets 231 and 232. A large diameter roller 238 is xedly keyed to the shaft 225 and a smaller diameter roller 239 is fixedly keyed to the shaft 235. The slides 236 and 237 are attached to posts 240 and 241 slideably mounted in sleeves 242 and 243 iixedly secured to the beam 244 fastened to the brackets 231 and 232. Springs 245 and 246 are positioned between the slides 236 and 237 and the sleeves 242 and 243 to force the roller 239 against the roller 238. At the upper end of the posts 240 and 241 is a yoke piece 248 having a cam 249 pivotally mounted thereon to engage the beam 244 and adjust the pressure applied by the springs to the slides 236 and 237. Thus the pressure between the rollers may be adjusted. A continuous sheet of material 141 (FIG. 2) is drawn from a supply 247 between the rollers and intermittently fed into the channel 140 (FIGS. 7 and 12) for the punching of the liners 20 as previously described. A brake means 225a is provided to limit the rotation of the rollers to the arc of actuation. The second roll feed assembly 38 is similar to the assembly 36 and is similarly intermittently driven.

THE STAR WHEEL DRIVE The star wheel 25 is intermittently driven by the intermittent drive shown in FIG. 4 of Patent No. 2,999,531 the casing 250 of which is shown in FIG. 4. This intermittent drive is connected by the gear 251 to the gear 252 of the star wheel drive 46 (FIG. 22). Gear 252 is connected through gear 253 to shaft 254 driven by gear 255 mounted to mesh with gear 88 (FIGS. l and 4) which in turn meshes with the gear 223 on the main drive (FIG. 21).

MODIFICATIONS In the foregoing embodiment of the invention no operations are performed at the intermediate station C between the two liner inserting stations B and D. However, the machine may be modified to provide a mechanism for inserting coupons, scoring or perforating, or applying glue or adhesive or performing some other operation in connection with the closure.

OPERATION Referring to FIGS. 1, and 6 of the drawings, the closures are fed by the continuously moving conveyor 30 which delivers the closures between the guides 58 and 59 onto plate 25a. The closures have the top panels resting on the conveyor and then on the plate 25a with the rims extending upwardly for receiving liners. The star wheel 25 in this embodiment has six slots 27 open at the periphery of the star wheel to receive the closures at the feed station A and to discharge the closures at the ejection station E. The star wheel 25 and the plate 25a form a horizontal rotating means to revolve the closures about a vertical axis in intermittent 60 steps to position the closure at six stations A to F.

The closures are forced into the slots by the closures coming olf of the conveyor 30. The star wheel then rotates and places the upwardly facing unlined closures at station B underneath the liner cutting and insertion mechanism 39. A continuous sheet 141 of liner material is fed by the roll feed assembly or liner sheet supply means 36 (FIGS. 2, 19, to intermittently move in timed relation with the stepped rotation of the star wheel a continuous unperforated portion of the sheet underneath the cutting and insertion mechanism on the presentation of closures to the station B. The cutting and insertion or cutting and tamping mechanism 39 is positioned above the star wheel and plate 25a and the closure mounted thereon. A cutting plate 130 (FIGS. 8-10) xedly mounted on the table 48 has an upper recess 132 and a lower recess 144 to receive the cutting die or cutting die plate 133 in the upper recess and the retention plate 145 in the lower recess. The cutting die head 135 is iixedly mounted on the supporting plate 138 which with the crosshead 75 and the posts 76 and 77 forms an actuating mechanism to raise and lower the cutting die head to cut liners which fall onto the stepped edge 147 of the retention plate 145.

The tapping tool 148 and the stem 151 form a reciprocal plunger with the tapping tool recessed in the die head during the cutting of the liners. The tappets 94 (FIGS. 2 and 6) are actuated by the cams 117 to force the tapping tool out of the cutting head to engage the retained cut liner and press it into the closure 22.

On insertion of the first liners 20 the star wheel 25 rotates to the intermediate station C and then to the second liner insertion station D, which has a similar cutting and insertion mechanism as station B with a second sheet 171 of liner material intermittently fed by the roll feed assembly or liner sheet supply means 38. The second liners 21 are inserted at this station.

T he closures 22 are then rotated to the ejection station E and are forced out of the slot 27 by the ejection finger 42. This is actuated by the ejection mechanism 43 and the ejection drive 45. The completed closures are forced onto the discharge conveyor 69.

As previously mentioned, other operations may be performed at the intermediate station C between the two liner insertion stations B and D.

CONCLUSION It is seen from the foregoing description that an improved method and means for forming and inserting a plurality of liners in closures for containers has been developed. The closures may be of various types, such as threaded, lug, etc., and may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. The containers may be made of glass, plastic, metal or any other `suitable container material. The machine in its operation provides a rapid and positive presentation of the closures to a liner receiving station, and a positive cutting and seating of the liners in the closures so that each closure has the liners properly formed and positioned. Thus the closures are rapidly and accurately provided with a plurality of liners, which reduces the cost of manufacture and increases the rate of production of closures with liners. The operations are synchronized by a common gear coupled drive to feed the liner sheets, rotate the closures, cut and insert the liners and eject the processed liners from the machine. Thus the precise and repetitive operation of the machine is insured for producing large quantities of closures.

A particular feature of the foregoing machine is the location of the liner receiving or inserting stations B and D. These are positioned on opposite sides of the center line of the machine passing through the vertical axis about which the star wheel rotates. This center line extends in the direction of liner material feed and the roll feed assemblies 36 and 38 are positioned on opposite sides of the center line. The liner materials 141 and 171 in sheet form are fed side by side in parallel relation to the stations B and D. The stations B and D and the corresponding cutting and insertion mechanisms extend at a substantial angle to the center line so as to be positioned in a sidewise relation to the direction of feed of the liner material. In the particular embodiment described the stations B and D are each 60 to the center line so as to be at a slight or 30 angle to a line perpendicular to the center line. This provides an economical liner layout for effective utilization of the liner material. It also permits the insertion of two liners into a multiple number of closures.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters herein is to be interpreted ase illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures at a plurality of stations comprising means for horizontally supporting 'and revolving closures in liner receiving positions about a vertical axis in intermittent steps from station to station with liner receiving stations on opposite sides of a center line through the vertical axis of revolution, said liner receiving stations extending laterally to the center line for receiving in a sidewise relation liner material fed in sheet form longitudinally to the center line, first and second liner cutting and insertion means on opposite sides of the center line and extending laterally to the center line in sidewise relation to the direction longitudinally to the center line and at a respective liner receiving station, first and second liner material supply means positioned on opopsite sides of the center line for supplying liner material in sheet form parallel to an on opposite sides of the center line to a respective sidewise positioned liner receiving station and a respective liner cutting and insertion means, and means for actuating said said rst and second liner cutting and insertion means to cut liners from parallel supplied sheet liner material and to insert liners in closures for providing closures with a plurality of liners.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liner receiving stations and said liner cutting and insertion means are at a substantial angle to the center line.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said angle is at least 60.

4. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting and revolving means hold a plurality of closures at each station, and said rst and second cutting and insertion means each has a plurality of cutting dies, cutting heads and inserting means for cutting and placing a plurality of liners at each station.

5. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cutting heads are hollow and said insertin-g means are positioned within said cutting heads.

6. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures as set forth in claim 5 wherein said inserting means are plungers vertically reciprocal in said cutting heads.

7. Apparatus for inserting a plurality of liners in closures having top panels and rims extending laterally thereto comprising a horizontal plate for supporting closures with rims extending upward for insertion of liners into closures, a horizontally rotatable means having radially extending slots for holding and intermittently moving closures about a vertical axis through successive liner inserting stations, rst and second cutting and tamping mechanisms positioned above said horizontally rotatable means and having guides forming channels for liner sheets, said rst and second cutting and tamping mechanisms having cutting dies below said guides and having cutting heads above said channels for severance of liner sheets into liners and having plungers reciprocally mounted in said cutting heads for engaging cut liners, means below said cutting dies and above said horizontally rotatable means for retaining cut liners, and an actuating mechanism xedly supporting said cutting heads and movable vertically to cut liners from liner sheets and having tappet means engaging said plungers and moved downward after severance of liners to seat cut liners in closures at liner insertion stations for providing closures with a plurality of liners.

8. Apparatus for inserting a plurality of liners as set forth in claim 7, wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a horizontal member positioned above said horizontally rotatable means and supports said cutting heads with said plungers, means for reciprocally supporting said member to move in a vertical direction, said plungers extending axially through said cutting heads and said member, and said tappet means having tappets mounted on said horizontal member and having iixedly mounted cams engaging and moving said tappets after severance of liners to press cut liners into closures beneath the cutting and tamping mechanism.

9. Apparatus for inserting a plurality of liners as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cutting heads have recesses and said plungers have disc-shaped tapping tool heads positioned in said recesses during severance of liners and engaging and pressing cut liners into closures.

10. Apparatus for inserting a plurality of liners as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cutting heads have sleeves for fixedly mounting the cutting heads in said horizontal member and said plungers have stems slidably mounted in said sleeves and extending thereabove for engagement by said tappets.

11. Apparatus for inserting a plurality of liners as set forth in claim 7 wherein said horizontal plate has upwardly projecting partitions extending in the direction of movement 0f closures supported by said plate and positioned below said first and second cutting and tamping mechanisms to separate and horizontally position closures in a liner receiving position.

12. Apparatus for cutting and inserting liners into closures comprising means for supporting a closure in a liner receiving position, liner sheet guiding means positioned above said supporting means, a cutting die edge between said guiding means and said supporting means, a reciprocally mounted member positioned above said guiding means and having a sleeve xedly mounted therein, a eutting die on said sleeve moving in and out of mating relation with said cutting die edge for cutting liners on actuation of said member, means in said sleeve and radially within said cutting die for seating a liner in a closure in a liner receiving position, actuation means for moving said member and cutting die downward and having means for actuating said liner seating means on continued downward movement of said member to force a cut liner into a closure.

13. Apparatus for cutting and inserting liners into closures as set forth in claim 12 wherein a support cutting plate is xedly mounted above said closure supporting means an-d has a recess, plate means forming said cutting die edge positioned in said recess and said support cutting plate having a channel intersecting said recess for guiding liner sheets in position above said cutting edge and a guide plate mounted on top of said support cutting plate for retaining liner sheets in said channels and having an opening above said cutting edge for passing said cutting die.

14. Apparatus for cutting and inserting liners into closures as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support cutting plate has a recess on the lower side facing said closure supporting means and having an opening concentric with the cutting die edge, said opening having a stepped edge for retaining cut liners for insertion into a closure by a liner inserting means.

15. Apparatus for cutting and inserting liners into closures as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cutting die has a recess and said liner inserting means comprises a discshaped tapping tool positioned in said recess radially within said cutting die during cutting of a liner and engaging and pressing said cut liner resting on said stepped edge into a closure.

16. Apparatus for cutting and inserting liners into closures as set forth in claim 12 wherein a stepped edge is positioned between said cutting die edge and said closure supporting means for retaining a cut liner, said cutting die has a recess and said liner inserting means comprises a disc-shaped tapping tool positioned in said recess radially within said cutting die during cutting of a liner and engaging and pressing said cut liner resting on said stepped edge into a closure.

17. Method of cutting and inserting liners in closures comprising intermittently moving closures in a liner receiving position from station to station including liner inserting and cutting stations, stopping movement of the closures at each station, separately feeding liner sheets to two liner cutting and insertion stations respectively, cutting liners from the liner sheets, dropping the liners to a retention position above the closures, pressing the liners into the closures at a respective liner cutting and insertion station and ejecting closures with liners at an ejection station.

18V. A method of cutting and inserting liners as set forth in claim 17 wherein a plurality of closures are intermittently moved from station tov station.

19. A method of cutting and inserting liners as set forth in claim 17 wherein the feeding of liner Sheets to liner cutting and inserting stations is intermittent and in timed relation to the movement of the closures from station to station.

20. A method of cutting and inserting liners as set forth in claim 17 wherein said liner sheet feeding step comprises feeding two liner sheets in parallel side by side relation to a respective cutting and liner insertion station extending sidewise relative to the direction of feed of sheet liner material.

21. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures at a plurality of stations comprising means for horizontally supporting and revolving closures in a liner receiving position about a vertical axis in intermittent steps from station to station, rst and second cutting and insertion mechanisms at separate stations positioned above said supporting and revolving means and having guiding means forming channels for liner sheets, said rst and second cutting and insertion mechanisms having cutting dies below said guiding means and having cutting heads normally spaced above said channels for severance of liner sheets on a downward movement into liners and having inserting means for forcing cut liners into closures, actuating means Xedly supporting said cutting heads and movable vertically to cut liners from liner sheets and having means operating said inserting means after severance of liners to seat cut liners in closures at separate liner insertion stations for providing closures with a plurality of liners.

22. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures as set forth in claim 21 wherein a station is provided between the liner insertion stations.

23. Apparatus for insertion of liners in closures as set forth in claim 21 wherein two liner sheet supply means are provided for intermittently feeding liner sheets in parallel relation to a respective rst and second cutting and insertion mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,332,445 10/ 1943 Grim. 2,751,673 `6/ 1956 Huntington 29`429 3,195,228 7/1965 Beacham. 3,302,278 2/ 1967 Whitney 29-429 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

